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Nature and Science February 2019
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| Einstein's Monsters: The Life and Times of Black Holes by Chris ImpeyWhat it's about: black holes, those mysterious regions of spacetime where gravitational forces are so strong that not even light can escape.
Why you might like it: Author and astronomer Chris Impey presents complex topics in theoretical physics in an accessible manner.
Further reading: Black Hole by Marcia Bartusiak, which profiles prominent physicists and their work; Einstein's Shadow by Seth Fletcher, about a team of astronomers attempting to photograph a black hole. |
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| Dreaming in Turtle: A Journey Through the Passion, Profit, and Peril of Our Most Coveted... by Peter LauferWhat it's about: turtles, tortoises, and terrapins -- from their prehistoric origins to their increasingly uncertain future.
What sets it apart: Author and journalist Peter Laufer includes amusing anecdotes about his experiences fostering a tortoise named Fred.
Is it for you? Although turtle-lovers may flinch at detailed descriptions of poaching and animal trafficking, readers with an interest in wildlife conservation will find this book to be eye-opening. |
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| End of the Megafauna: The Fate of the World's Hugest, Fiercest, and Strangest Animals by Ross D.E. MacPhee; illustrated by Peter SchoutenIntroducing: a menagerie of megafauna, from mastodons (Mammut americanum) and sabertooth cats (Smilodon fatalis) to giant ground sloths (Lestodon armatus) and elephant birds (Aepyornis maximum).
Why you might like it: This thought-provoking book offers a paleomammalogist's perspective on the extinction of Earth's large vertebrates, examining evidence that points to humans as the cause.
Contains: photorealistic paintings of megafauna, as well as maps, charts, timelines and line drawings that supply necessary context. |
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| In Search of the Canary Tree: The Story of a Scientist, A Cypress, and a Changing World by Lauren E. OakesWhat it's about: Biologist Lauren Oakes reflects on six years in Alaska studying the yellow cedar (Callitropsis nootkatensis) and getting to know the locals whose lives are intimately connected to the dying forests.
Want a taste? "I was flying in search of the forests I'd study -- the graveyards of standing dead trees and the plants I so wanted to believe could tell me, through science, that the world wasn't coming to an end."
For fans of: John Vaillant's The Golden Spruce. |
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| Your Place in the Universe: Understanding Our Big, Messy Existence by Paul M. SutterWhat it is: an accessible, amusing tour of the universe and its mysteries.
About the author: Astrophysicist and cosmologist Paul M. Sutter is the creator of the "Ask a Spaceman!" podcast.
You might also like: Jorge Cham's similarly irreverent (but illustrated) We Have No Idea: A Guide to the Unknown Universe; Carlo Rovelli's concise Seven Brief Lessons on Physics. |
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| What It's Like to be a Dog: And Other Adventures in Animal Neuroscience by Gregory BernsWhat it's about: Human and canine brains show striking structural similarities, offering intriguing hints about dogs' emotional lives.
About the author: To study the canine brain, neuroscientist Gregory Berns trained dogs to climb into MRI machines. And his training regimen is almost as fascinating as his research findings.
For fans of: John Bradshaw's Dog Sense or Alexandra Horowitz's Inside of a Dog. |
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You might also like: Jackson Galaxy and Mikel Delgado's Total Cat Mojo and Abigail Tucker's The Lion in the Living Room
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What it's about: Tamed tells the story of the greatest revolution in human history and reveals the fascinating origins of ten crucial domesticated species; and how they, in turn, transformed us. Reviewers say: "Superb: fascinating, intimate biographies of the species that have shared our white-knuckle ride to the present and have helped to make us what we are. Read if you want to know what and why you are." —Charles Foster, author, Being a Beast
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Birds of a feather : a true story of hope and the healing power of animals
by Lorin Lindner
What is it: The clinical supervisor for Clinica Sierra Vista Behavioral Health traces her unlikely founding of the Serenity Park exotic bird sanctuary and veteran PTSD center, describing how her relationship with an abandoned Moluccan cockatoo led to her use the deep bonds that birds are capable of forming to establish a beneficial therapy practice for traumatized veterans.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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